PointGrab brings gesture control to home appliances
At CES, the company plans to show its latest technology for controlling devices and home appliances by pointing your finger.
With the Consumer Electronics Show just around the corner, PointGrab is trying to get ahead of the noise with pre-announcements of products that will make their debut at the Las Vegas event. In this case, they will make their debut in closed-door demonstrations by appointment and in YouTube videos demonstrating the concept.
The concept is compelling -- controlling devices from a distance with your hands. The company is unveiling two new versions of its gesture-recognition software, which now works with standard 2D cameras on consumer devices. Currently, Samsung, Lenovo, Acer, and other manufacturers have integrated the technology into their consumer devices such as TVs and PCs.
At this stage, gesture controls are still in their infancy. Other companies, such as Eyesight and Extreme Reality, are developing gesture and body movement recognition software that work with a variety of devices equipped with standard 2D cameras. In addition, Leap Motion has introduced a hardware controller for enabling gesture control, and Microsoft's Xbox One will enable control of more than games. Apple recently acquired PrimeSense, the 3D-sensing company behind Microsoft's original Kinect sensor.
It's just a matter of time before the natural interface of gestures becomes the standard rather than an exception. The Multimedia Research Group estimates that software-based gesture controls will reach 35 percent penetration on consumer entertainment devices by 2018. PointGrab and its competitors are hoping to catch that wave.